Snore Guards and Sleep Apnea Appliances

The definition of sleep apnea is the inability to get enough oxygen into your lungs due to the obstruction of the airway. Chronic sleep apnea can contribute to patients feeling very lethargic throughout the day with low energy. Finally, reducing the amount of oxygen to the lungs places additional stress on your heart.

For the majority of my time in practice I resisted providing my patients with a snoring appliance. The reason I had done so few was due to the bulky design of the old appliances. Recently I was introduced to a Narval appliance that is made with cutting edge technology that offers a vast improvement in design and comfort.
-Dr. Kenneth Giberson

Rather than sending traditional poured stone models to the laboratory, Dr. Giberson sends a very detailed impression to the lab. The lab are now using sophisticated software that digitally captures an image of the impression creating a cyber model. The construction of the appliance is based on CAD/CAM technology. In Laymen’s terms this is computer aided design creating a computer aided manufactured appliance.

The reason the appliance works is that it positions the lower jaw slightly forward. Doing this, opens the airway thus creating more room for the posterior border of the tongue. Due to the accuracy of the CAD/CAM technology, the Narval appliances fit beautifully.

Comfort

The greatest benefit over the older appliances is due to the strength and quality of the material they can be made much thinner. The thinner the snore guard is the more comfortable the patient will be and that greater the likelihood that he will sleep with it.

Reasons

Patients wear a mandibular anterior re-positioning appliance for numerous reasons. One of the most common reasons is to reduce snoring. Many couples have ended up in separate bedrooms because of snoring. By reducing the snoring you are reducing the occurrence of sleep apnea. Patients often will undergo a sleep study to determine if they have sleep apnea. The definition of sleep apnea is the inability to get enough oxygen into your lungs due to the obstruction of the airway. Chronic sleep apnea can contribute to patients feeling very lethargic throughout the day with low energy. Finally reducing the amount of oxygen to your lungs places additional stress on your heart.

Treatment

The primary medical treatment is the use of a C-Pap machine which comprises a mouthpiece which covers your nose and mouth and places pressurized oxygen into your airway. Most of the patients I see are looking for an alternative to this machine.

Contact Us

The Great Lakes Orthodontics website will give more information on the Narval Appliance. If you have an interest please come to our office for a consult.

Get In Touch

(703) 273-2040

Please feel free to give us a call or email us if you have a question or would like to schedule an appointment.

If you are a new patient, we encourage you to print and to fill out the New Patient Forms prior to your first visit.